The beauty is in the detail

It is really important to look at our own work frequently, no matter what stage it is at or how we feel about it, to see where we are making progress. Or just simply enjoy a cropped area for its colour, design, texture, quality of edges, technique, etc., all of which can be seen in the examples below.

Use the grey framing cards in class each week (tutor has them) to "read" your paintings in this way. Work with the person next to you to look at their "details" and talk about what you find in each other's work.

Here are some details from this week (week 5):

Week 5: developing our use of the medium and colour

We continued on our pictures from last week. A great range of subjects, styles and palettes representing the dynamic individuality of each member of the group.

There is NO class next week (31 May) as it is half term week. Next class is 7th June.

Andy

Dorothy

Graeme

Helen

Jeff

Rebecca

Yvonne

Week Four: opening the door to colour!

After three weeks of looking at line, tone, contrast, shape and form we now turn our attention to colour. Firstly, this week, we combined learning about oil and soft pastels with basic colour theory by building our own 12 hue colour wheels. Some very good depth of pastel and colour sensitivity starting to show. It takes a bit of time and practice to master the medium and colour mixing / blending. A good start! Next week we will put some of this learning into practice with a scene of our own choosing...a chance to stretch our wings!

Colour - some artists to look out for: Monet (complementary greys), Johannes Itten (understanding colour), Seurat (use of complementary colours side by side - broken colour).

Andy (conte crayon on multi use paper)

Dorothy (soft pastel on dark tinted pastel paper)

Ella (oil pastel on canvas-style textured paper)

Geraldine (softa pastels on smooth cartridge paper)

Graeme (soft pastel on soft, off-white paper)

Helen (soft pastel on cartridge paper)

Jeff (soft pastel on light tinted pastel paper)

Rebecca (oil pastel on lightly textured mid colour paper)

Yvonne (soft pastel on light tinted pastel paper)

Easy Essential Art Elements - please read! Use scroll bar on right of page.

Week Three: recession using line and understanding tone through contrast

We changed the programme order slightly tonight to build on the first two weeks skills development. Tonight we looked firstly at varied line weight to show recession (depth). Then we look at contrast to understand tone (modulated light and dark). An excellent workout with great observation and sensitivity in use of line and tone.

Line - recession (Artists to look at - David Hockney (early years), Pablo Picasso (early years), Alasdair Gray, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres):

Andy

Dorothy

Ella

Graeme

Helen

Jeff

Neil

Rebecca

Yvonne

Tone - contrast (artists/drawings to look at - Georges Seurat, Francesca Goya, Elaine Green):

Amie

Dorothy

Ella

Helen

Jeff

Neil

Rebecca

Yvonne

Yvonne